The People’s Court of Bien Hoa city, the southern province of Dong Nai, on July 30 handed out sentences ranging from 12 months probation to 18 months in prison to 20 defendants under the charge of “causing public disorder” pursuant to Clause 1, Article 318 of the Penal Code.
Defendants at the court
35-year-old Tran Nguyen Duy Quang was given 18 months in prison and Pham Ngoc Hanh received a jail sentence of 16 months.
Meanwhile, Dinh Ma Phong, Nguyen Thi Thuy Dung, Ho Cong Di, Diep Ut Tien, Nguyen Thi Lan Anh, Pham Ngoc Huyen, Dinh Kha Ly, Doan Van Thuong, Nguyen Thanh Toan, Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong, Nguyen Thi Truc Anh, and Nguyen Thi Ngoc Lieu were all sentenced to 10 months in prison each.
Vo Nhu Huynh was given a jail term of eight months. Nguyen Dinh Truong, Pham Van Linh, Nguyen Thi Truc Ly, Nguyen Thi Tuan, and Nguyen Thi Thuy received sentences ranging from 12-14 months of probation.
The defendants were accused of taking advantage of the National Assembly’s meetings to discuss a draft Law on Special Administrative-Economic Zones and the Law on Cyber Security to cause social disturbance.
According to the indictment, in the afternoon of June 10, these 20 people occupied roadways and blocked vehicles on National Highway 1A, and Pham Van Thuan and Duong Tu Giang streets in Bien Hoa city, leading to serious traffic jams.
They ignored orders from police officers to dissemble, instead joining about 200 others to disturb public order, causing negative impacts on social security, safety and order in the locality, as well as creating traffic congestions for two hours on the national highway and another two hours along the aforementioned streets.
In addition, several people distributed bread, water, banners, and flags to protestors.
At 4pm the same day, the 20 persons were arrested by Bien Hoa police. –VNA